Oct. 11, 2010

DAYTON, Ohio – The University of Dayton Baseball, Head Coach Tony Vittorio and former player and Coach Cliff Browne unveiled the Driesen/Browne Endowed Baseball Scholarship fund this week in an effort to fully fund baseball scholarships and give the Flyers a long-term competitive edge.

The endowment fund, in association with UD Athletic Development, is named in honor of Browne ’66 and Brad Driesen ’65 who both played and coached for the Flyers. The pair was instrumental in the development and foundation of the program as it is known today. Driesen was Head Coach of the Flyers -- with Browne as an Assistant Coach -- from 1977-82.

“We have for years raised scholarship funds to elevate our program, but it takes a commitment like Coach Browne’s to take us to another level,” Vittorio said. “He has great passion and energy for the University of Dayton and our baseball program. His commitment will allow our players dreams to become reality.”

A large gift from Browne – a Findlay, Ohio resident – established the Driesen/Browne Endowed Scholarship fund at $25,000. Due to the nature of an endowed fund, the annual spin-off each year will be approximately five percent. Further gifts to enhance the fund are encouraged. Each dollar donated to the fund promises to increase opportunities for student-athletes to earn a high-quality education while giving the baseball program additional scholarships as allotted by the NCAA.

For more information on donating, refer to a message from Coach Vittorio which details ways the fund benefits the program and how to make contributions.

The NCAA allows a total of 11.7 scholarships for each Division I baseball program. The University of Dayton baseball program is currently able to offer 70 percent of the mandated maximum each year. The current cost of a yearly athletic scholarship at the University of Dayton is $40,000.

The Flyers will host the annual Red Baron Series at Time Warner Cable Stadium this weekend, beginning on Friday, Oct. 15 at 4 p.m. First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for 4 p.m. The Series concludes on Sunday at 1 p.m. Admission is free.

On Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Flyers will also be helping out with the Building Bridges for Baseball Clinic at Fifth Third Field in downtown Dayton. The benefit is in partnership with UD’s “For the Good of Gloves” community service effort which provides baseball gloves for underprivileged kids in the Dayton area.